Chinese actress Gong Li poses with the Order of Arts and Letters Commandeur medal at the France Pavilion in Shanghai on May 1, 2010. [Photo: CFP/yule.sohu.com]

Chinese actress Gong Li was given the highest honor in French arts on Saturday while she helped inaugurate the France Pavilion for the Shanghai World Expo.

Gong received a Commandeur in the French Order of Arts and Letters, a top honor given by France's Ministry of Culture to recognize outstanding contributors in the fields of arts and literature. Commandeur, or Commander, is the highest rank in the Order, followed by Officier (Officer) and Chevalier (Knight).

Gong was bestowed with a Chevalier in 1998. "But I felt different this time, because it was the Expo, and it was in China," Gong told reporters.

One of the best-known Chinese actresses in the international cinema, Gong is also the France Pavilion's "ambassador of charm".

The 2010 World Expo opened Saturday in Shanghai and will run until October 31.

Gong Li is to star in a Chinese remake of Mel Gibson's What Women Want, marking her first performance in a local production since her role as the queen in Zhang Yimou's Curse of the Golden Flower in 2006.

However, cinema-goers will be able to see her on the big screen before then, playing opposite John Cusack and Chow Yun-fat in Shanghai, a film set in the city during the chaotic 1940s, in which she plays a singer in a night club who is the lover of Chow's ganglord.

In What Women Want, Gong will play the creative director of a Beijing-based advertising company, and Andy Lau a chauvinistic single father who also works in the company.

Gong's manager Christopher Tseng told the Hollywood Reporter that the contract would be signed in a few days, and Chen Daming, the film's director, confirmed the news.

Rumors say that Gong is replacing Fan Bingbing, a much younger mainland actress, in the role.

Chen says that Gong is the best choice.

"The woman is facing problems in marriage and family and worried about the future," Chen tells China Daily. "Fan is too young. Gong is closer to the role. And Gong is the best actress in China. I would even change the script for her."

Another factor in the decision was that Lau and Fan co-starred in Future X-cops and Battle of Wits, so their pairing is not that fresh for viewers, Chen says.

The plot of the remake will stay fairly faithful to the original. Lau, in Gibson's role, gets the ability to read women's minds after an accident.

"To remake that film into a Chinese one is very interesting, because in China male chauvinism is more prevalent than in the US," Chen says.

But Chen says the Chinese film will add some context to Lau's role to make him more reasonable, such as the death of his mother during his childhood, which makes him eager to know women and win their attention.

Chen has also invited Gibson to be a guest star and is waiting for his response.

An actor-turned director, Chen most recently directed One Foot Off the Ground in 2006, a black comedy about grassroots folk opera actors.

According to Yu Dong, CEO of Polybona, the mainland production and distribution company bankrolling the film, the filming has started, but he declined to reveal any more details about the project.

Chen says he expects the film to be released on Valentine's Day next year.

The original film starring Gibson and Helen Hunt grossed more than $300 million globally in 2000.

Gong has kept a low profile in China after becoming a Singaporean citizen in 2008, showing up in a few fashion shows and celebrity parties.

Gong Li poses for a series of photos for fashion magazine "L'Officiel", which show off her quiet elegance and nobility. The star is now shooting the romantic film "What Women Want", a Chinese remake of Mel Gibson's Hollywood movie of the same name, alongside superstar Andy Lau. [Photo: L'Officiel/ent.sina.com.cn]

In the film, Gong Li impersonates Li Yilong, the creative head at an advertising company, who is aggressive on the outside with a kind and tender heart. More than 30 different costumes were prepared for her.

"As it's my first time to play an office lady," said Gong Li, "adding that the role knows women's consumer psychology, she must be sensitive to vogues, especially the details." Even shoes and glasses of the film are selective in order to make the best effects.

The film is considered a Chinese remake of the American romantic comedy "What Women Want".

Chinese actress Gong Li arrived in South Korea to promote her WWII spy thriller "Shanghai" ("Die Hai Feng Yun"), in which she co-stars with Chow Yun-Fat and John Cusack, M1905.com reports.

In the film, Gong Li plays a woman who works for the Chinese resistance group fighting Japanese invaders. It was released in Chinese cinemas on June 17, 2010.

Gong Li said working with Hollywood filmmakers helped her experience a different life and culture and widened her view of filmmaking. She encouraged more Asian actors to take advantage of opportunities to join Hollywood productions.

"Shanghai" will appear in South Korean cinemas on January 27.

lol @ South Korea getting sloppy seconds. She should be pimping this movie with Andy Lau about to drop:

Famous Chinese actress Gong Li unveiled her new movie plans at Cannes on May 27. The star was invited to attend the closing ceremony of the prestigious film fest, and she was a presenter at the award ceremony.

Gong told reporters that she will join a Hollywood blockbuster movie at the end of the year. The project will be directed by Tarsem Singh. And she has signed contracts for three more movies which will start shooting in 2013.

A previous interview had indicated that Gong will join the cast of Jiang Wen's new movie "Gone with the Bullets." The actress admitted that she had contact with Jiang but that she was still waiting for his final decision.